Oil-storage tank.



M. J. MUNN.

OIL STORAGE TANK.

.. Flu

him

a amm.

Nl. l. MUNN.

OlL STORAGE TANK.

APPLICATION Hun Dsc. 21. ma.

1,200,391. 1 Patented Oct. 3,1916

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. J. MUNN.

0|'L STORS TANK.

APPLICATION man oec. 21. 19:5.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

a sains-su, ser a.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I l I I I l l l t l I I l l I I I l I l Il. I l l I l l l l t x fill.

UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE. f

MALCOLM J. MUNN, 0F TULSA, OKLAHOMA. ASSIGNOR TO CONCRETE OIL STORAGE COMPANY, 0F TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

OIL-STORAGE TANK.

To all whom it maj/concord' Y Be. it known that'I, MALCOLM J. MUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tulsa, in the county'of Tulsa and vState of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements -in Oil-Storage Tanks, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relate'sto crude oil storage tanks and has as its object to provide a crude oil storage tank s o constructed and arranged ythat thez'e will be no likelihood of destrue tion of he tank or loss of oil through tire lor lightning and but little loss of oil the introduction of. oil into the tank, for the drawing oft' of the oil whenever desired, and y for the escape of gases-rising from the .oil

and for necessite the tank for the purpose of cleaning or repairing 4he interior thereof. It has been ascertz'une. lby experwnce (hat Vin tanks of this nature damagey caused by lightning is incident to the'gases' arising from the oi'l'm the tank being ignited and therefore the invention contemplates the 'provision of means whereby such gases may be permitted to escape tothe atmosphere ,from an insulated and water-sealed outlet or vent so that evcnshould such gases be lors the. body ofvwater and moist soil which completely surrounds the tank serve to insu lele the tank and protect the same both from lightning and fire, but this particular ar- .,.lrunge'ment ot the tankresults in the, further 4asii'vantage that the oil within the tank is maintained at a substantially constant mininuun tenliperature and therefore there is not likel)r to he any undue loss of oil through evaporation. Furthermore, as the invention contemplates the construction of the 'tank from concrete or other porous material,

Athere is secured the further advantage that Specification of Letterslatcnt.

lamentedl oct. 3, 1916.

I Application led December 21, 1915. .Serial No. 68,037.

the walls of the tank being-of porous may terial and beingwater saturated, resistance is offered to passage ofthe oil by capillary attractionl through the said walls;

Another aini of the invention is to provide means whereby access may be had to the interior of thetank without the` necessity of draining ott' the body of water in which the tank is submerged. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1- 1s a top plan view'of the, tank embodyingr the invention, the vieu' illustratingthe manner 1n which the tank is to be arranged with respect to a. resem-oir and spill-way.; `I"ig9l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 2 2 of l ig.- 1 Fig. 3 is a vvertical transverse sectional view on the line 3- 3 of Fig.

2; Fig. `4 is a horizontal sectional view' I through the tank; Fig-5 is a detail vertical sectional view illustrating the means provided whereby access-may be had 'to' the interior of the tank; Fig. -is a detail vertical 'sectional view through the gasou'tlet or vent. Fig. Y is a detaillongitudinal sectional view 'illustrating the vent valve arranged withiri the vent-pipe. Y. Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the. followingdescription and indicated in all the views ofthe drawings, by the saine reference characters'.

While the accompanying drawings illustrate a certain specific construction of tank and a. certain arrangement of the same with relation to a natural or artificial reservoir and spill-way, it is to .be understood that the drawings are to be considered nu-,rely as illustrating one embodiment and arrangement of the invention and that the details ofconstruction and arrangement may be. modified in many ways without departingr from the principle involved. rlhe tank in itself *may be constructed from any Vsuitable material, such for example as concrete, stone, wood or, lin fact, may be of any construction so longr as its walls are of some material which is more or less porous or"permeable and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the bottom or Hoor of the tank is indicated by the numeral 1, the top or roof-hy the numeral 2, one end wall being indicated by the numeral 3 and the other by the numeral 4.

The numeral 5 indicates in general the.

side walls of the tank and the numeral 6 I indicates walls which incline downwardly and inwardly from the Ittiver .portions of the side walls 5 to the bottom or ,floor 1 of the tank, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Forconvenience in describing the t-ank thewalls 6 thereof may be considered as a portion of the bottom of the tank, the wall indicated by the numeral 1 being the true bottom or Hoor. Uprights 7 within the tank serve to brace the top of the tank with relation to the floor and these uprights are preferably arrangcdvin two series upstanding from the floor 1 near the lower side of the inclined bottom Walls 6 although some other arrangement may be found desirable. The side walls 5 ofthe tank are provided with footings 8 which add to the stability of these walls and in a like manner the end Walls 3 and 4 are provided respectively with footings 9 and 10 andtlie floor 1 is provided with footings 11 located at points below the lower endsof the uprights 7. By reference to Fig. 2 of 'the drawings it will be observed that the bottom of the tank is inclined downwardly from the end wall 3 thereof to the end wall 4 and in order that all of the oil and any sediment therein may be drawn ofi' from the tank there is provided an oil outlet pipe 12 which extends through the end wall L of the tank close to the floor 1 and this pipe may lead to any convenient point for discharge and be provided with any sultable valve to control such discharge. In order that oil may be introduced into the tank one or more inlet pipes, indicated by the numeral 13, are provided and these pipes lead into the tank through the top or roof- 2 thereof.

As before stated the tank may be constructed or arranged in the beds and sides of natural valleys or gorges and a natural catchment or an artificial reservoir may be utilized in maintaining a body of water above the tank or a specially constructed reservoir and bed for the tank may be employed for the purpose above stated. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings the tank is arranged in the bed of a stream, the banks of which are indicated at A and the reference letter B indicates a natural catchment or reservoir or a specially dug or constructed one which is located upstream with relation to the tank. A darn wall 14 is constructed in spaced relation to the wall 3 of the tank and the space between the said walls is preferably filled in with crushed rock. In order that water may flow from the reservoir past the wall 14 a pipe 15 is arranged to extend through the said wall and at a point above the plane of Athe roof of the tank. In order that water owing from the reservoir over the roof of the tank may befidammed and therefore maintained at a proper and described level so as to insure of@ insulation of the tank at all times, there is provided, a suitable distance down stream with relation to the wall 4 of the tank, a dam wall, indicated by the numeral 1G, this wall being preferably reinforced by buttresses 17 and having its upper portion located a suitable distance above the plane of the roof of the tank, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. For a purpose to be presently explained the bed of the stream is dug to forni ditches 18 extending along the sides of the tank and communicating with a ditch 19 extending transversely of the upper portion of the lower end wall 4 of the tank, the ditch 19 being, of course, located between the said end wall 4 and the dam wall 16. It will new be understood thatl wadter flowing from the reservoir B will accumulate Within the ditches 18 and 19 and above the tank until it reaches the level of the upper portion of the wall 1G and that it may be maintained at this level so as to completely cover and submerge the tank. In the event that it is desired to drain ofi' the water for the purpose of repairing the tank or deepening the ditches 18 and 19, an overflow pipe 20 is arranged within the said wall 16 and is provided with a suitable cut-off valve 21 or this overfiow may be provided for in any suitable and well known manner. It will now be understood that the body, of water above the tank will not only iilLthe ditches 18 and 19 but will seep through the soil in which the sides and bottom of the tank are embedded and this soil being in this manner moistened, the side and bottom walls of the tank will be kept moist or saturated with water and as thevwater has a greater tendency to pass through the pores of the Walls than has the oil, the passage of the oil bj( capillary attraction through the walls willr ICG be effectually resisted and loss of oil will he prevented.

While in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the lower portion of the tank is surrounded by moist soil it will be unterq stood that the tank may be so arranged. within the bed of the-stream that the water in which it is submerged will come in direct contact with substantially all portions of its walls and bottom.

In order that gases rising from theV oii contained in the tank may escape to the atmosphere without the usual danger of ignition from light-ning or fire in, such manner as to result in destruction of the tank or ignition of the oil within the tank, onelor any desired number of vents, preferably of the construction illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, are employed in connection with the tank. In the construction illustrated, a pipe 22 is arranged within the roof of the tank and is connected by a threaded nipple 23 or by any other suitable type of water proof connection, with one cnd of a suitable i length ot rubber hose 24 which extends up wardly from the connection Q23 and is thence bent over as at in such manner that its bend will extend above the normal water level which is indicated by dot and d: fl; lines in the several figures of the. d rawi a the lower or discharge end ot the hose or tubing being titled and secured within ay collar 2G supported by suitable uprights 2T embeddedV in or otherwise lixed to the roel ot the tank. By reference to Figs, i?. and (i ol the drawings, ily will be observed that the discharge end of the hose 2i is lu this manner supported and held below the n ater level but spaced above the plane ot' the root 2, the said discharge end having fitted to it :i foraminous disk or screen 28, lVliile it. is preferable that the hose'24 be of rubber or of some other material which a non-cond uctor of electricity the said tube may be of metal and may be suitably insulated from the tank and from the supporting collar 2G or an equivalent supporting means.

It will now be understood that by reason of the construction above described a vent for gases risingY from the oil within the tank is provided and yet this vent is so constructed and arranged that. it will not be likely to be struck by lightning nor could damage result from tire in the vicinity of the tank owing to the provision of a water sealed vent for the gases. It will also be apparent that gases escaping through the outlet end ot' the pipe Q4 must rise through the body of water above the tank a distance nearly equal to the depth ot the water above the root' and that due to the water seal provided. the gases must be under some little pressure in order to escape from the said vent passage. Thus not only does the particular vent arrangement herein illustrated aud described provide for a safe escape of gases from the tank but it also prevents to a considerable extent loss of oil through evaporation due to the resistance offered to the escape ot the gas.

In order that access may be had to the. interior of the tank for the purpose ot' cleaninrgr or repairing the same. one or any desired number of man-holes are provided in the top ot the tank, and in the drawings the niuneral 29 indicates the casing ot the manhole and 30 the cover therefor, the cover being; fitted in any well known manner so as to be air and water tight and thereby prevent not only the escape of gas from the tank but also the entrance, into the, tank, of water. The :asing Q9 is provided with an uiistanding; annular flange 3l which is exterioriy threaded and by references to Figs. 2 and il ot the drawings it will be observed that this easing! and its flange projects but a very short distance, above the plane ot the root il and is consequently sulmierged and therefore no portion of the casingl is exposed above the water level. In order that the tank may be entered, however, there is rovided a suppleinental casing which is indicatedby the vnumeral 3*.) and comprises a hollow cylindrical openended body interiorly threaded as at 33 at its lower end. In employing the supplemental easing 312 the lower portion of the saine is submerged in t he body ot water above the tank and threaded onto the Hange l in the manner shrevn in Fig?. 5) of the drawings. liv reference to Fig 9 it will be obwrved that the supplemental casing is of such height that when so cfinne'cted with the casing Z9 its upper end will project above the water level and consequently after the water within the casing 32 has been hailed or pumped out or otherwise removed, the infin-hole cover 30 may be removed and entrance to the tank may then be had through the casing 32 and easing Q9. In connection with this portieri of the structure it will be seen that while access may be readily had to the interior of the tank, nevertheless there is ordinarily no portion of the structure projecting above the water surface by which such access may be had.

It will be understood of course that the inlet and outlet pipes may be insulated from the walls ot the tank through which they enter in any suitable manner. It will also be understood that the invention contemplates the utilization of any available natu` ral ground formations in the construction and arrangement, ot' the tank so that the saine `will be insulated in the manner hereto 100 tore explained. lt will further be understood that the vent hose 2l need not necessarily assume be exactishape or curvature herein shown but may be arranged in any other suitable manner.

Inasniueh as when oil is being drawn from the tank a partial vacuum'will be created it. isnecessary that means be provided for admitting air to the tank so that the drawing od' of the oil will not be interfered with 110 and so that there will be no likelihood of the water in which the tank is submerged beingr drawn by suction into the gas vent pipes and this means is clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. 1n the 115 upper portion or bend ot each of the vent pipes 24- there is interposed a valve casing indicated by the numeral 34 and provided in its under side with anlopening 35 and adjacent the opening with a downward bulge 120 indicated at 36. A 'valve 37 is fitted as at witain the casingr 34. and has a weighted end, 39 designed to be accommodated within the bulge 36 when the valve swings upwardly as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. 125 The valve 37 normally rests by gravity upon its seat and closes the opening 35, but when oil is being drawn from the tank and a partial vacuum is created within the tank vand within the vent pipe 26, the valve will open 130 f 0 in admit alii* i0 the Said pip anni will, 0i course, again @inse :is `in pieesul'e is nbtainwfi.

n Orfiol' that iiw waning* Si ifi' :mii Conwnioniiy iiitwi tu f [iw (fusing 'Nl' iiff upper mig@ fri) this i bewind :is infiiifivfi xiii 4C* nini tin? imwi' @nii pniinn mi' ii? i\ iiziriii is imiiixi'vi ai 'ib pifoiiigt iii@ (ultim` iimn im man( fins 'i'uivmi Unici' omi of iiifpipi; i) ira imnswi witiiin u vagin-gj lnmiiii-i 'n iis tmp with n nnmiwif cover i3 und wifi muy im n the iinnm i4 in 1% mier Sido.

ii; ionamin; tin tank in ,simili Htmfp-sifii :i x'ziiiyl in' 1n larga mimos, the Cosi nii cx (":ivntion is to :fr iiirw degli@ :xwnicfi and, in:'Lixm'nmx'o, it is pqiiiio to obtain :L suppiy of water :it iitii u1 n0 costi.

Having' thus described the invention, what if; cininmi :1H nw: if:

l. in nii ,wsimnir wmprining' :e Unik :Vififfimi'ifi in iin" imilmn mi' :s the ing oi" iintank iwiugf imiow the iw'ii 0i tim waarin in "iw Hmmmn ini-:m5 ifm' iimv ing` mii from tintunic, :mii menus fm1' Sup4 piying nii tu #im tank" :mii :i vi-,nt pip@ insuiivimi imm #xiii nnii und extending beyond tine inw-1 of liifmu-n iin@ ymiiwn ni the Wut jnilim nimm? iin; nuten" inning :1 ulivo Upenwi by tim i` 1'i.':;liir n mi: i martini vuelinm formed in the tzink when nii .is withfii'am'n. foi (im :uilninsirfu 0i :sir in ,anni tzxnif. Thr: winhinzxion viti) im nii Siomgfe funk sninnii'ged .i mitm'. insana iimiiintmi fwn; iii@ tankY foi' wntizn-yj mmv. inf-zins im' mipliigving nii 'in iii@ bini". :1mi :1 ,imw nii' pipe at tim butfoni Ui the iiink,

Tim combination of a stm-:1mi

Mmmm stream.

sum1 :is 'equilibrium sinff'ieii if cnncreiv and ombefifiwi in eau-ith, of :i w ii hpnccd funn mich ollnmsi @mi nl' the nnii. Ifile Aniis und tin'y :niliuccni bnni smaintaining :i body nf wnim' over' the qui) 0i' (iu: inni: to insulate tine intuir :igzinisi liv-ir. xmms nxmniing iwymni the wzltvr i0 Vun' iii@ mink, means oi suppiiig miti tim mnii. i. iiz'nw wif pipe :it iii imihmi of' 'iin funk. imi man infie fzmngs extending' tin-w? fil liw imij' 0i n'ziiei: anni muisatcii (A imm iw bini;

4. vonci'cw (iii storage inni( inning' ifs imlimn iwngilndinniiy' :uni pni'tinii): Limi:- M'Hi'v iiufiii10 i supporting poSlS vxtcniiing 'imm iiwI juni'in' Ui' iii@ two inviinwi pm livin;4 nii' iii@ imitan; i0 the top, :uuinns :1i the bottom of the tank, sziiii tnni; boing' cinivmliiedin tim mirth und ivi'ing n imi'iy 0i' munir cxienfiing over the entire tuig marins for supplying nii to the tank', menus for iimwin` `r nii from tim inni(` :imi :m lnsw iniwi will pipi* vxfvniiing fwn; iii?y inni; :imi inm'ifirf i with zi miveii (naming ini/.winni Lilo Walter.

iinA iwrcin iunmiiimi nwiinwi ai insu iziting :in viiwmiininingg timii ng'nimt vxnfi- 1mi iireqnmiucnig agents, ':misisting in i f iiiy sninnerg'ing iii@ tankY in a ii'vvinsuinting liquid nmintuinwi :in :ippi'oxinmicii :i nur mai icmi niinvv (iw tunic, guarding iw iiicffl :uni immun of tin* taini in.' a: medium pur- .nwnimi in' smid liquid in gxezii'vr nr (icgfree, :imi providing iin sziiii tank with :i mi'umn iciicf inoiniwi' mim'nniiy insiiintuii ifl'mn tim tank, :imi iii-0 insnizli'ui in' Lmid hud) of iiqimi :iiim'u iie lzink.

in cxinnony wiwieo i :iiiix my signuiure.

MALCOLM J. MUNN. 11,. 5.] 

